Sydney Airport to welcome A380's arrival

Sydney Airport has welcomed Singapore Airlines' decision to make
it the world's first destination for a scheduled service of the
Airbus new generation superjumbo.

Sydney Airport corporate affairs manager Rod Gilmour said that
it will be a red letter day for the airport when the double-decker
A380 touches down in Sydney after its maiden commercial flight in
December.

"This is one of the major global aviation events for decades,"
he said

"It is fantastic for Singapore Airlines to be the first airline
to fly the A380, but it's also fantastic for Sydney."

Sydney Airport has spent over $120 million on works to prepare
the airport to receive the massive plane.

It is building new aerobridges with three doors to allow both
decks of the plane to unload passengers and has also strengthened
the runway and straightened up taxi lanes.

"The airport is ready to receive the A380," Mr Gilmour said.

Singapore Airlines on Tuesday confirmed that Sydney had beaten
out rival London to be the world's first destination for a
commercial flight of the A380.

The airline expects to fly its first A380 in December after
taking delivery of the aircraft in November.

The airline decided that Singapore to Sydney would be the first
route on which it will fly, rather than London to Singapore because
of the shorter distance and lower crew requirements.

Singapore Airlines public relations manager Kate Pratley said
the first flight of the A380 will put Australia in the
international spotlight and help encourage tourism to the
region.

"Australia will make aviation history when Singapore Airlines
flies the first ever commercial A380 flight from Singapore to
Sydney in December this year," she said.

Singapore Airlines will fly the A380 with less than 480
passengers, which is lower than its full capacity of 555
passengers.

The Singapore Airlines aircraft will be configured in three
classes but further details about the layout remain a closely
guarded secret.